Fishing Report For Lucky Peak Lake, ID

Current Report: Good

Kokanee enthusiasts in Idaho report the size of the fish here definitely exceeds the average kokanee caught across the state. For that reason, the lake gets a lot of fishing pressure, especially on weekends. Expect to catch a good number of 12" to 16" here. Fishing out in front of Long Gulch, Bend Gulch and Brown's Gulch is the popular area to find kokanee here.

WINTER. The ice fishing season is short here, but during this time jigging is considered the best method. Before, during and after ice fishing, kokanee are typically caught from 25 to 60 deep. The Deadwood arm, Mores Creek, and the Chimney Rock area near the Lucky Peak Dam are producing nice catches. After ice out, slow-trolling small hoochies, squid imitations, small spoons, or flys behind a small dodger, is popular. On occasion they move deeper. Ice jigs, spoons, PowerBait, ShrimpZ, shoepeg corn and maggots are popular ice fishing baits here.

SPRING. During late Spring kokanee typically move closer to the surface where phytoplankton blooms become more abundant, providing a rich food source. Kokanee will feed heavily on this plankton in 10 to 30 feet of water, until surface temperatures reach the high 50's. Kokanee stage shallower, in tributary mouths, upper river arms, and warmer, food-rich pockets as they begin to move toward spawning reaches. The Mores Creek arm and the Boise River channel are hot spots in Spring. Casting or trolling spinners, spoons, or kokanee rigs works well during this period.

SUMMER. Downriggers or leaded line are the two primary methods for catching kokanee here, while trolling. Kokanee school up and hang out in 30 to 60 feet deep, over deeper water, usually above some form of structure. The ideal water temperature is mid to low 50's. Identify the depth for that temperature range, and the kokanee will be hanging out in that depth range. They are often caught in 15 to 25 feet of water, early mornings and evenings around flats and points. Worm harnesses and wedding ring spinner setups are popular when trolled behind a 4" dodger. Locals are tipping these baits with shoepeg white corn, PowerBait, Z-Man Scented ShrimpZ, or live nightcrawlers to helps attract bites. 15 to 30 feet deep is the ideal depth to work in these warmer months. Trolling these baits between 1.2 mph and 1.8 mph is a good speed for these kokes. PowerBait, Z-Man Scented ShrimpZ and scented shoepeg corn, spoons and kokanee spinner rigs all work well for slow drifting, or trolling.

FALL. In early Fall, kokanee migrated into spawning grounds, along the shoreline of the lake, or upstream in rivers and tributaries. In the weeks just prior to the spawn, they gathered in sizeable schools near the mouths of these inflows. The spawn typically occurs in mid to late September. Kokanee fishing is good from 10 to 20 feet deep. Casting or trolling spinners, spoons, or kokanee rigs works well during the spawn. Now that late Fall has arrived, these schools have moved out to deeper structure in the basin. Later in Fall, they are caught in 15 to 50 feet of water, often suspending above structure.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Rainbows are stocked continually by Idaho Fish and Game, providing a constant supply of chunky rainbow trout for anglers.

WINTER. When Winter sets in jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with bait, are catching nice limits of rainbows out of 10 to 40 feet of water. These baits work well around the old river channels and the deeper humps and cuts. The Mores Creek arm and where the Boise River enters the basin are hot spots in Winter. Trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, are the best approach during the cold-water season. Slowly worked offerings are more likely to attract bites in this cold water.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water 6 to 25 feet deep. The Brown’s Gulch arms, around Sandy Point, the Mores Creek arm and points along Spring Shores are classic areas In Spring. A good number of rainbows are typically caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. Shallow flats and rocky structure are quick to warm in the afternoon sun. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 20 to 60 feet deep, occasionally deeper. Trolling the main basin with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Following drop-offs into deeper water, along structure or creek channels, is a major key to getting bites. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits in deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures in the shallows, draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Anglers catch them 6 to 30 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Once they had a full summer to grow, there are some nice size rainbow to be caught. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are good choices, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits. Later in Autumn, they move into 10 to 40 feet of water.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Smallmouth bass are one of the "big trifecta" species at Lucky Peak Lake. The cold, clear water is an ideal environment for smallies.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around deeper structure, points, flats and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. Before, during and after ice fishing season, they can generally be found from 6 to 20 feet deep. Jigging spoons, tube baits, drop-shot worms, jigs and Ned rigs tend to temp smallmouth in deep water. I like to work these deeper haunts very slowly, as the bass are somewhat sluggish. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. After ice out, when water temperatures rise into the 50's, smallmouth move from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily in 2 to 12 feet of water at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. A couple good areas are creek mouths in Brown’s Gulch and Mores Creek. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move into 10 to 20 feet deep, and feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass are currently feeding shallow early and late in the day in 8 to 15 feet of water. They are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, gizzard shad, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges around 10 to 35 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action. Anglers fishing rocky points, submerged humps, and main-lake drop offs, are reporting good catches.

FALL. Fall is in full swing and smallmouth have followed schools of baitfish into coves and bays 6 to 20 feet deep. They prefer cold, clean water which happens quickly in early Fall. Locals report that tube jigs, and drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics, are popular in 10' water or deeper. Worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful, when bass are shallow to mid depth. Later in Fall, smallies move to slightly deeper water, around 15 to 30 feet deep. Fishing shallow for smallmouth is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.